Direction indicator



. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 9, 1929. J. CLIFFORD DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Feb. 1e

Filed Feb. 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 3| TO/NTA/(E MAN/roLo INVENTOR JoH/v Cuff-09D y" ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOHN CLIFFORD, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

DIRECTION INDICATOR.

Application led February 16, 1927. Serial No. 168,707.

The present invention relates to improvements in direction indicators and its particular object is to provide a direction indicator for a motor vehicle that is actuated by means of the suction produced in the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine, by means of which the vehicle is propelled.

It is articularly proposed to provide a hinged signal and a reciprocating piston for operating the same, the piston being subject to thesuction of the engine, and a suitable valve control being provided, preferably on the dashboard,v within convenient reach of the driver for rendering the suction active on the piston, and for releasing the vacuum.

It is further proposedto-pr'ovide in connection with the vacuum operated signalling device an electrically ^operated illuminating means becoming active at operative times to draw attention to the signal with increased emphasis.

Further purposes and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a perspective view of my signalling device mounted upon the left rear fender of a motor vehicle;

Figure 2 a front view of my signalling device with the front cover removed to disclose the interior;

Figure 3 a side view of mv device containing three compartments or three different signals, and showing the interior of one' of the compartments;

Figure 4 a schematic view of my control for the signal; v

Figure 5 a sectional detail view of an individual control valve; and' Figure 6 a wiring diagram.

lVhile I have shown only the preferred form of the invention, it should, be understood thatvarious changes or modifications may be made within the sco'p of the claims hereto attached without departing from the spirit of the invention.

My direction indicator 1 preferably comprises three individual units 2, 3, and 4, each intended for a different signal, and the number corresponding to the number of sig-c nals generally used, namely, right, left and stop. The unit comprises a casing 6, with a front wall 7, a rear wall 8, one side wall 9, 'a bottom 11 and a shortened top 12. Between The pin 13 is arranged so that a chamber 17 is left between the wall 9 of the casing and the signalling element 14, and in this chamber is accommodated a cylinder 18 having a piston 19 reciprocable therein. A rod 2l extends upwardly from the piston through the top of the cylinder and has hinged to the upper end thereof a link 22, which on its part is pivoted to one end of a second link 23, the other end of which is pivotally supported as at 24, between the front and rear walls of the casing, and has a blade 26 extending downwardly from said pivot, and formed integral with the link. The blade 26 lies against the inner face of the signal. element 14 and swings the same outwardly when the piston 19 descends. The descending motion of the piston 19 may be limited by an adjustable stop 27 on the piston rod 21.

The piston is actuated by a vacuum communicated to the lower end of the cylinder 18 from the intake manifold, through a tube 28, one of a plurality of valves 29 disposed on the dashboard and a pipe 31 connecting with the intake manifold. Each of the valves 29, as illustrated in detail in Figure 5, comprises a cylinder 30 preferably supported in the dash-board 32, having a plunger 33 reciprocable therein, the plunger being actuated by means of a rod 34 having an operating knob 36 disposed at the front end thereof. The extreme end of each cylinder 29 connects through the pipe 37 with the pipe leading to the manifold, while a port 38 provided in the side wall of the cylinder 30, near the bottom thereof connects with the tube 28 and through the same with the. cylinder 18. A second port 39 in the sidewall of the cylinder 30 opens into the atmosphere.

It will be seen that with the plunger 33 in the position shown in Figure 5, the chamber in the piston 18 connects through the tube 28, the cylinder 30 and the port 39 the signal is rendered active.

Three units are preferably provided, one

lunit being made to swing a signal arm to the right into an upwardly slanting position; a second unit being made to swing an arm to theleft into a horizontal position, and' a third unit swinging a signal into a downward slanting position to the left for indicating a stop, it being understood that the extent of the swinging motion may be adjusted in each unit by adjustment of rthe stop 27.

A very simple means for illuminating the signal while the same is swung into active position, may be combined with my signalling device. A light 42 may be associated with each signal and connected to a source of energy 43, with an individual switch 44, provided for each lighting circuit. The switch may be operated by the movement of any one of the moving parts of the signal, as for instance, by means of the stop 27, which may be made to bridge the two contacts 46 and 47, when its respective signal is rendered active, while contact with one of the contacts is broken when the signal returns to an inactive position. It should be stated that thel weight of the signalling element is suicient to return the same to inactive position when the vacuum is released.

The operation of the device will'be readily understood from the foregoing description.

In order to show a signal the operator of a motor vehicle pulls one of the buttons 36, which causes the plunger 33 in the cylinder 31 to inove inwardly and to establish communication between thetube 28 and the pipe 31 and causes the .suction of the intake manifold to become active upon the piston 19 in the cylinder 18. The vacuum draws the piston downwardly and causes the signalling element 14 to be swung inte signalling position by means of the blade 26. While the rvoaeoe piston moves downwardly the stop 27 bridges the contacts 46 and 47 and lights the lamp associated with the respective signal. 'lhe operator may leave the signal in an active position until the particular movement for which the signal was given is entirely executed whereupon he presses the button 36 inwardly, thereby connecting the tube 28 with ther atmosphere through the port 39, and releasing the vacuum which causes the signal to return into inactive position. v

lt will be seen that a particular advantage is oered in this signalling system because the signal may be retained in an active position throughout the movement for which it was given, while signals given by motions of the human arms usually have to be discontinued immediately to aHord the driver an opportunity to use the arm for steering or other control movements.

llt should further be understood that the operation by vacuum is particularly advantageous, because the movement is gradual and corresponds most naturally to the signal given by the human arm.

ll claim: 1. ln a direction indicator of the character described, a casing having a vertical cylinder therein and having a signal arm pivoted to normally depend in adjacent relation to the cylinder, a iston reciproeable in the cylinder, means or subjecting the lower face of the piston to suction, a piston rod extending upwardly from the piston, a plate pivoted below the arm pivot so as to normally depend in adj acentrelation with the arm, an extension of the plate beyond its pivot. and a link connecting the extension and the piston rod for operating the late to swinglthe ami on its pivot wbenthe piston is drawn downward.

v .2. ln al direction indicator of the charac- 'I ter described, a signal arm suspended with freedom of swinging motion, a plate susarm and means for swinging the plate on its pivot or operating the arm.

JOHN CLIFFORD. 

